Syria accuses Israel of planting spying devices in coastal region

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows devices that appear to be like rocks that were found in countrys coastal region, northwest of Damascus, Syria, Thursday, March. 7, 2013. Syria's state-run media said they were placed by Israel to spy on Syria.
(AP/SANA)

SANA's report said the devices are designed to photograph, register and transfer data. The agency said the objects were uncovered in Syria's coastal regions, but gave no further details.

The Israeli military declined comment.

State-run TV aired footage of an object consisting of what looked like a camera and a satellite dish, and other objects that resembled rocks. Plastic boxes resembling batteries and cables were shown lined up in a room.

Lebanon also discovered similar devices in recent years, and said the objects were planted by Israel.

Syria and Israel have fought several wars since the Jewish state's creating in 1948, and the two nations remain technically in a state of war even now.

Israeli warplanes carried out an air raid near Damascus in January. U.S. officials said the target was a convoy of sophisticated Russian SA-17 anti-aircraft missiles. Syria said a research center was hit.